If to consider in annual terms, then the largest share of contribution to September fall is attributable to re-export. Exactly the fact that the volumes of export of minerals (oil and petroleum products) continued falling (-33.1% in September). This partially can be explained by recent official message on gradual termination of export of Russian petroleum products through Baltic ports. Based on sentiment prevailing in Russian state-owned enterprise Transneft, as well as determination of the Russian party to load, first and foremost, its ports at Saint Petersburg and Leningrad Oblast, most probably, no positive trends in this industry are forthcoming either.
An annual growth of Latvian export is weighted down by export of food from Latvia as well, which shrank by 6%. This is connected with a major fall in export of grain crops (-54%). Here there are two reasons. First, the last year’s crop appeared to be record-breaking on many articles. Accordingly, the current – usual - crop is losing in terms of volumes of harvested and exported grain crops. Second, because of favourable weather the export of grain crops this year began one month earlier than usual: in August the annual growth in export of grain crops grew seven times, but in September noticeably shrank.
Apart from oil and grain crops, the decline in export was also marked in such segments as mechanisms and equipment (-8.2%) and metal ware (-6.3%).
In its turn, woodworking keeps on delighting, where the annual growth of export achieved 10.1% (inter alia, the gain in export to Great Britain made up 26%).
Fears associated with Brexit doubled the energy of Latvian exporters of wood and wood products, who are hurrying to sell as much as possible before exit of Great Britain from the EU. But the date of this monumental for Europe event becomes more and more uncertain. So, the Supreme Court of Great Britain took a decision that the government may not start the Brexit procedure without approval by the Parliament. What would eventually decide the servants of British people is unknown. Anyway, it means postponing of the moment of kiss off, which is positive news for Latvian exporters.
Moreover, the general growth was facilitated by export of furniture (30.9%) and chemical products (7.6%).
Nevertheless, the deficit of foreign trade of Latvia in September shrank to the lowest over the recent year level. In September the deficit of foreign trade in goods made up 87.1 million euro and this is the lowest index since 2010.
